Fuel-supply device



' -April 24, 1928. 1,667,090

H. WALLACE FUEL SUPPLY DEVICE Fiied Aug. 5, .1925 2 sheets-shes; 1

46 37 In 2 j v April '24, 1928.

H. WALLACE FUEL SUPPLY DEVICE Fileq Aug. 5, 1925 251188128-Sh88t 2 Patented Apr. 24, 1928,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HUGH WALLACE, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A'SSIGNOB TO GENERAL MOTORS RESEARCH COB YOBATION', OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

rUnL-sUPrLY DEVICE.

Application filed August 3, 1925. Serial No. 47,876.

This invention relates to a fuel supply device for internal combustion engines, an more particularly to the type in which the fuel is lifted from a main supply tank and delivered to an auxiliary reservoir, from where it is delivered by gravity to the carbu retor of the engine.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a fuel supply device particularly adapted for usein connection with motor-vehicle engines, and so constructed and arranged as to be capable of being installed in vehicles having limited space.

Another object is to construct and arrange thevarious elements .of the device so as to reduce the number of connections acting as liquid fuel conduits, whereby the chances of fuel leaks are substantially reduced.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the auxiliary ,reservoir, taken along the line 1-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken throughline 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an inverted plan of the auxiliary reservoir;

Fig. 4 is a detail section taken on line 4-4 of. Fig. 2, and illustrates the fuel passages and inlet and outlet check valves;

Fig. 5 shows the fuel supply device installation on a four-cylinder. internal combustion engine; and

Fig. 6 is a detail, longitudinal section of the pulsator'an'd portions of theengine.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. 5, there is shown an internal combustion engine '20 provided with a manifold 21 to which is secured a carburetor 22. The carburetor 22 has a fio'at bowl 23 having an inlet port 24 provided with connections for attaching the fuel pipe 25.

The numeral 26 indicates the auxiliary fuel reservoir secured on the body of the motor vehicle in any suitable manner and at a higher level than the carburetor. This auxiliary reservoir comprises a base'27 provided with a ring 28 which may be formed integral with the base 27 on the upper surface thereof and near its'periphery; or, may, as shown in the drawing, be secured to said base by means of screws 29,a gasket 30 (1 being positoned betwen the base and ring to prevent leakage at this point. A casing 31 forms the reservoir, fitting closely about the ring 28 and being welded thereto to prevent leakage. In the upper portion of the casing .31 is an opening 32 over which a vent cap 33 is secured. Plate 34: is provided in the opening 32, having vent holes 35 and a central opening for receiving a stem. Pipe 36,

which extends into the cap 33, provides an air vent for said cap.-

A housing 37 having a flange portion 38 is secured to the bottom surface of the plate 27 by means of screws 39. This housing 37 includes 8. depending portion hollowed out to form the chamber 40, in which thereis positioned a screen 41 held in position in this chamber by means of a plug 42 which is screw-threaded into the lower end of the depending portion of housing 37. A gasket 43 is provided at the joint between the portion 37 and the plug 42, to prevent fuel leakage at this point. A fuel inlet port 44 is formed in the wall of the depending portion of housing 37. A lug 45 is formed integral in the housing and is provided with a passage 46 which communicates with a channel 47 formed in the housing block, the opposite end of the passage 46. being screw-threaded as at 48 to receive the connection for the pipe 49 leading to the pulsator.

The interior of the screen element 41, located in the chamber 40, is in communication with a passage 50 formed in an enlarged portion of the base 27 extending up into the casing 31. The passage 50 is in communication with'a reduced portion 51 in axial alignment with said passage 50, thus forming a shoulder 52 which acts as a seat for the valve element 53, to be described hereinafter. Passage 51 has a communicating passage 54in which there is provided a check valve 55, which may be termed the inlet check valve. This valve is held. against its seat 56, formed in the passage 54, by means of a spring 57, said spring being interposed between the check valve 55 and a collar 58 held in position between the base 27 and thegasket 59; which inturn is provided between the cap 27 and housing 37. The collar 58 is provided with an upwardly-extendingsleeve 60 which has transverse passages 61. This sleeve 60 is positioned in the passage 54 for the purpose of limiting the downward travel of the intake valve 55 when it moves from its seat 56, by means of suction.

The passage 54 is in communication with the passage 47 formed in the housing 37. This passage 47 is connected with an opening 62 formed in the base 27, which in turn communicates with the interior of a tube 63 secured in an opening in the ring 28. A cover 64 is provided in the upper end of this tube. A pipe 65 is secured in the passage 46, this pipe extending up into the tube 63 so that its upper end is adjacent the cover 64. The opposite end of the pipe is, as has been mentioned, secured in the passage 46 of the lug 45 and communicates with the port 48 with which pipe 49 is connected.

In the Fig. 3 it may be clearly seen in dotted lines that the passage 47 is of Y formation, the base thereof being that portion which connnunicates with the interior of the tube 63. The upper or left-hand branch of the Y passage 47 communicates with the passage 54 in which inletcheck valve 55 is located. The lower or righthand branch of the Y-formed passage is designated by the numeral 66. This branch communicates with the passage 67 formed in the seat for the outlet valve 68, which is located in the valve cl'iamber 69 formed in the base portion 27. A sleeve 7 0, provided in this housing 69, is secured in the upweirdly-extending portion of the base 27 in any-suitable, manner. A spring 71 is inter osed between a shoulder formed in the out et passage 72 and tends to maintain the Valve 68 in engagement with its seat 67. In the Fig. 4 it may be seen that the discharge end of the outlet passage 72 is located a substantial distance above the base 27 which forms the bottom of the tank, thus causing passages 66 and 47 together with a portion of the tube 63, to form a chamber in which fluid is trapped for maintaining the device primed during non-operation. A port 73' is formed in the base 27, this port being an outlet for the reservoir 26, and to which the pipe 74 leading to the carburetor is connected.

The valve 53, mentioned heretofore, is carried on a stem which axially extends up to the assage 51 through a passage 81 formed in t e ceiling of the passage 51 and providing communication between the passage 51 and the inside of casing 31. The upper peripheral ed e of this passage 81 forms a valve seat or the valve 82, which is connected with the stem 83, the opposite end of which extends through a guide hole formed in the plate 34. A float element 84 has a tubing 85 passing therethrough, this tubing in turn having the stem 83 extending through it. The lower end of the tubing 85 has a spring 86 secured thereto, the opposite end of the spring being secured to a pin 87 carried by the stem 83. This. spring 86 forms a flexible connection between the floatelement 84 and the stem 83. Pipe 90 connects the fuel inlet port 44 of the screened chamber 40, with the main fuel tank 91. The stem 83 is provided with a ball-shaped end, as shown in Fig. 1, which is loosely secured in a socket formed on the end of valve 82. This structure provides a swivel connection between the two-way valve includ- The stem 83 being of lesser become cocked and thereby stick when the movement of the float 84 being lifted by the fuelin the tank 31, tends 'to raise the valve 82 from its. seat and lift the valve 53 against its seat.

In Fig. 6, a pulsator is shown comprising a cylinder having flanges 101, by means of which the pulsator is secured to the engine crankcase. 102; An extension 103 of the cylinder 100 extends into an opening 104 of the crankcase, said extension being provided with longitudinal slots 105 for receiving a pin 106 which also extends through slots 107 formed in the piston 108. The other end of the piston 108.is provided with a plug cap 109. A coil spring is secured to this cap 109, the opposite end of said spring being anchored to the pin 106. The end of the piston 108 opposite the plug-109 is provided with a cam follower 111. This cam follower is held in engagement with the engine-driven cam 112, due to the action of the spring 110, which will tend to draw the pin 106 to the left, as regards Fig. 6, holding it in engagement with the inner end of the slot 105 in the cylinder extension 103, while drawing the piston 108 to the right, so that-the follower 111 will engage with the cam 112. In this position, thepin 106 is also in engagement with the left end of the slots 107 formed in opposite sides of the piston Wall. Port 113 is formed in the outer end of c linder 100, said port receiving oneend of the pipe 49, the otherend of which is connected with the port 48 of the auxiliary reservoir.

\Vhen the engine is operating, the cam 112 will force the piston 108 to the left, as regards Fig. 6, compressing the air within the space between thepiston and the cylinder head, thus providing compression through the pipe 49 and in the stand pipe 65; and, therefore, in the tube 63 and the passage 47, which passage ma be termed the fuel relay chamber. When the cam 112 of the englne moves toward the position as shown in Fig. 6, the spring 110 will move the piston in the opposite direction, or to the right, as regards Fig. 6, thus rarefying the air in the fuel relay chamber 47. As the air in the fuel relay chamber 47 is' rarefied, properly be delivered to the interior of the the inlet check valve 55 will be moved away casing 31.

from its seat against the edge of the spring By this arrangement the connections 57, thus creating suction in the chamber 47, through which liquid fuel must pass are Fuel will be lifted from-the tank'91 through substantially reduced, they being only four the pipe 90, thence it will enter intothe in number. Thus the liability of fuel leaks chamber 40, pass through the screen 41 and is substantially reduced. The pulsator may enter into the passage 50. Assuming that be located in any suitable position on the the level of the fuel in thecasing 31 is at engine, inasmuch as a flexible tubing is the, a low point,vthe float 84 willbe in its low only connection between it and the auxiliary,

position, thus causing the spring 86 to rereservoir,--this tubing being the conductor lease its pull on the pin 87and thereby per of air only. The tube and stand pipe 63 and nait the stem 83 to push the valve 82 against 65,1respectively, are provided so that they its seat in passage 81, shutting ofl communiwill extend beyond the high level of the fuel, cation between the passage 51 and the in -thereby eliminati the'possibility of liquid terior of the casing 31. In this position the fuel beingdrawn own into the pulsator. valve 53 wilhbeott itsseat on shoulder 52. While the, form of embodiment of the Thus the fuel may flow from the passage present invention as herein disclosed, constipast the valve 53 into the passage" 51 and tutes a preferred form, it is to be understood thence through the passage 551, past the inlet that other forms. might be adopted, all comcheck valve 55, throughtransverse passages ing within the scope of the claims which 61 into the interior of the sleeve and into follow.

the fuel relay chamber or passage 47. Upon What is claimed is as follows:

the reversestroke, orpressure stroke, of the 1. A fuel supplydevice, comprising in compiston 108, the fuel in this passage or fuel i bination,

Y relay chamber47 will be forced out through with an inwardly extending flange; a pulpassage 66, lifting the valve 68, thence passsator tube attached to the flange and extending' into the chamber 69"through passage 72 in within the tank,the inner end of said into the interior of the'casin this point the liquid fuel will. ow by grav-. tached'to the flange being'open and in comity through the port 73,pipe 74 intothe carmunication with an aperture in said flange; buretor bowl 23-" through inlet port 24. a'base secured to the flange of the tank, said When the level of-the fuelin the casing 31 base having valved inlet and outlet as- I has reached aproper height, so that the sages; an intermediate passage inthe ase 'valve 82 from-its seat, thus positively clostank.

float element-'Btv'vill beraised-sufliciently to 'providing communication'between the tube tension the spring1'86'and cause. it to exert a and the inlet and outlet passages when the a tank having an open end provided 31. From tu e being closed, the end of the tube atpull on the pm 87,-,ths 83'will be moved baseis attached to the tank; and a pressure pipe attached to the base and extending into when said base is attached to'the sutliciently u ward-"to; draw thev valve 53 against its 'seat.'on"shoulder 52a'nd move the-. the tube ing c'ommunicationbetween the passage 50' 2; A fuel sup Iii device comprising in and passage '54, and opening communicacombination, a ta having one open end; tion between" the interior of the casing 31 a base attached to the 0 en end of said tank and passage54. Under these conditions, sucforming a bottom therefor; valved inlet and tion and pressure strokes ofthejp'ulsator Wlll outlet passages in said base; an intermetend to draw fuelfrom theginteriorpf the diate passage in said base communicating casing'31, through passage{8 1,into' the paswith the inlet/and outlet passages; a tube sage 54 and down into the {net relay-chamwithin the tank having a closed end ad aber norlnal path, past the ontlet 'valve 68 backv end of said tube communicating with the ininto the cas ng, '31; 'From this it may be a termediate passage; and a pressure pipe exthat as soon' as the float reaches a proper casing,-,thus"maintain1ng"a sup seen that while theifloat element 84 is maintending into the-tube so that its one end is tained above a'proper high 'lev'el,"fu el will adjacent the closed end thereof, the other he vcirculated*from the'interior oij casi'ng 31 end of said pipe; extending throughand bearound the describedipaths,'back into said ing attached to-the'base.

' ly' ,oigfuel 3. A 'fuel supplydevice comprising in j sfcarburetcombination,-a tank having one closed end;

which may; r 'e o rt Iled by a base attached to the open end of said tank or,thi s flow being'a olut'ely, co' the fuel-flow-controlling elemen buretor bowl. Itwill, of con ithe carand providing-a bottom therefor, saidvbase be seen having? housing portion extending into the tank, thehousing low level, the valves 82 and 53 will again with'inlet' and outletpas sages; check valves be moved sothat fuel and then force said fuelgup'j'through its. cent the closed top end of the tank, the open portion being provided may flow from the in said passages;';a tube extending within main tank 91 into the relaychamber and the tank and having a closed end. adJacent I into the tube and terminating adjacent the closed end thereof-when the said member is. I 7

- "vvith the't'ube; and a pipe extending through "andsecured to the housing member, said pipe extending into thetube and terminating ad the closed end of the tank and an open end communicating with an aperture in 'the'base;

, a housing member secured to said base, said aperture which communicates with the tube;

and a pipe extending throughjand secured to the housing member, said pipeextending attached to the base. a a a 4. A fueljsuplfly .devioe ,compris'ing'm combination, a tank having one closed end;

a baseattached'to the open end of said tank and providing a bottom therefor, said base having a housing portion, extending'into the.

tank. the, housing portion being provided withinlet and outlet passages, the outlet passage extending upwardly into the tanker) as to discharge into'the said tank a substantial distance above the base of the tank;

"check valves in said passages; a tube extendin within the tank and having aclosed end ad acent the closed end of the tank andan open end communicating-With an aperture.

in the base; ahousing member 'secured to saidbase, said member having a passage communicating with one of the passages in the base and a second passage providing communication between both passages in the base and-the aperture whichcommunicatesj'aoent thefclosed endthereof when the said member is attached to the base. Q

signature. I

WA LACE] 

